On the Flip Side
On the Flip Side is an hour long television musical with music by Burt Bacharach, lyrics by Hal David, and a book by Robert Emmett.[1] The story concerns rock 'n' roll star Carlos O'Conner, whose career is on the skids after early success at age 20. He tries to make a comeback, but his style is out of date. He prays for a miracle, and gets one, when Angie and the Celestials, four angels, join his act.[2]
On the Flip Side was made for the anthology series ABC Stage 67, and it was originally broadcast on ABC television on December 7, 1966.[2] It was the first musical written by Bacharach and David, who later co-created the 1968 Broadway musical Promises, Promises.[3] The production was directed by Joe Layton and starred Ricky Nelson as O'Conner and Joanie Summers as Angie, with Tyrone Cooper, Steven Perry, and Jeff Siggins as the Celestials, Will Mackenzie as Jerome, Donna Jean Young as Juanita, Murray Roman as Hairy Eddie Popkin and James Coco as Zuckerman.[4][5] Peter Matz served as the arranger and conducted the orchestra.[6]
Original cast album
On the Flip Side – Original Cast Album | ||||
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Soundtrack album by | ||||
Released | 1966 | |||
Genre | Cast recording | |||
Length | 26:12 | |||
Label | Decca | |||
Producer | Charles "Bud" Dant | |||
Ricky Nelson chronology | ||||
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Joanie Sommers chronology | ||||
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An original cast album of On the Flip Side was released in December 1966 with Ricky Nelson and Joanie Sommers.[7] It was Nelson's fourteenth studio album and Sommers's tenth studio album. It was released on the Decca Records label, and was selected as a "Special Merit Pick" in Billboard magazine whose review gave particular praise to the arrangements by Peter Matz, Nelson's performance on the song "They Don't Give Medals", and Sommers' vocals on the song "Try To See It My Way".[8]
Side one
No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" | Ricky Nelson | 2:19 |
2. | "Fender Mender" | Joanie Sommers, & The Celestials | 2:27 |
3. | "They Don't Give Medals (To Yesterday's Heroes)" | Ricky Nelson | 2:02 |
4. | "Try to See It My Way" | Joanie Sommers | 2:29 |
5. | "Juanita's Place Montage" | Peter Matz Orchestra | 4:50 |
Side two
No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Take a Broken Heart" | Ricky Nelson | 2:39 |
2. | "They're Gonna Love It" | Donna Jean Young | 2:06 |
3. | "Try to See It My Way" | Ricky Nelson & Joanie Sommers | 2:28 |
4. | "Juanita's Place" | The Celestials | 2:12 |
5. | "They Don't Give Medals (To Yesterday's Heroes)" | Peter Matz Orchestra | 2:49 |
References
- Vincent Terrace. "On the Flip Side". Television Specials: 5,336 Entertainment Programs, 1936-2012, 2d Ed. McFarland & Company. p. 286. ISBN 9780786474448.
- Joan Baxter (2020). "On the Flip Side". Television Musicals: Plots, Critiques, Casts and Credits for 222 Shows Written for and Presented on Television, 1944-1996. McFarland & Company. ISBN 9781476641898.
- Ken Bloom (1996). "Hal David". American Song: The Complete Musical Theatre Companion. Vol. 3. Schirmer. p. 236.
- T. Mike Childs (2014). "O'Conner, Carlos". The Rocklopedia Fakebandica. St. Martin's Publishing Group. p. 156. ISBN 9781466873018.
- "ABC Stage 67: On the Fllip Side (TV)", Paley Center for Media, accessed October 23, 2023
- Robin Platts (2003). Burt Bacharach & Hal David: What the World Needs Now. Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 51-52. ISBN 9781896522777.
- Sheree Homer (2012). Rick Nelson, Rock 'n' Roll Pioneer. McFarland & Company. p. 155. ISBN 9780786460601.
- "Special Merit Picks: On the Flip Side". Billboard: 31. December 31, 1966.
External links
- "On the Flip Side". AllMusic. Retrieved October 7, 2023.